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Friday, December 10, 2010

Hannah and Patrick had their Christmas Concert the other night. Here is the video of Hannah. Patrick's was longer and got rejected on the upload so I have to break it up. I will try and get it uploaded soon.

Monday, August 2, 2010

While in Florida the kids wanted to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal.

Three days later we were in San Fransisco for the Swinson Family Reunion and upon landing, we headed to Pier 39 and there was another Hard Rock. So we had lunch there. It may sound crazy, but we thought it was kind of cool that we had eaten at the Hard Rock on opposite sides of the country within a couple of days.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

This summer we had the opportunity to travel to Orlando and visited Sea World, Disney's Blizzard Beach and Universal.

The first stop was Blizzard Beach which has a slide called Summit Plummet. 12 stories tall at 120 feet and reaches speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Everyone did it and had a blast.This was a big year because Hannah was tall enough to ride the big coasters. Her first was the Manta at Sea World. (http://www.ridetheflyingray.com/manta/) Your sit down and the track is above you. They they pull the seats up so that your back is against the track and you are hanging. Well we got the front row and it was all over after that. She is a coaster enthusiast. It was neat how we are at the point in life when we are able to all go on the big rides at the same time together.The next stop was Universal. The opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (aka Harry Potter Land) was the weekend prior so we knew it would be packed. this was a benefit to our new found love of roller coasters, the rides that usually had really long waits were abandoned because everyone was at HP. When we finally worked our way over, it was wall to wall people.We left for dinner returning later that evening and the crowds had thinned out. Hannah and I were able to get on the new interactive Harry Potter rind in the castle after a wait of a little over an hour, much better than the three hour wait earlier in the day.We all rode both coasters of the Dragon Challenge and so I had Hannah stand in front of the entrance to take her picture. I couldn't have planned it and I could have waited all day and never gotten this picture. Both coasters came in at exactly the moment I snapped the picture.

The Choosing Hat talked to us as we went through the line reminding us of the ride rules.

Hannah and Patrick had a half day of school for Honor's Day. Hannah was honored for being selected for the People to People program and Youth Leadership Program which will allow her opportunities to visit the Nations Capital to learn about the government more in depth.

Patrick got the most improved 7th grade band award. He plays the trombone and is enjoying band.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Last weekend we went out to the local Strawberry Festival at Ottawa Farms.We dragged the kids sulking and fuming that they had to go with us and pick fruit.After they got stared, they were hopping all over trying to find the best berries.

In the end they had a lot of fun (and actually told us so) and we picked about 20 lbs.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

We went to Fort McAllister near Savannah to ride the trails. We had a lot of fun. The trails are only about 3.4 miles so it wasn't bad. We have discovered a Muddy Spokes program through the state park system where we can ride trails in 11 different parks totaling about 68 miles and get a free t-shirt. The kids are interested because it isn't just the same old riding down the road.

I ordered the hitch assembly and bike rack for the car so we should be ready to roll in a week or so!

Friday, March 26, 2010

So I had to eat my words this year. I complain about how hot it always is in Georgia and in Savannah and this year, February 12, 2010 it snowed. Diva wasn't very impressed with the snow.

Hannah enjoyed playing outside. All the kids on the street were outside playing and got really cold hands because nobody had good gloves. Me on the other hand went in and pulled out the snow gear and when they tried to get warm, I continued to pelt them with snowballs.

Hannah's Georgia Day at school was a lot of fun. Having a reputation for dressing up for school functions, I was James Oglethorpe and walked in the parade with the kids. I was asked back next year even though Hannah will no longer be in lower school, I was asked to lead the parade. I don't get why other dad's won't join me.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Hannah is doing the Jump Rope for Heart again this year in Memory of her Great Grandmothers Ivey and Oma and her Grandfathers Grandpa Ray and Papa Jim who have both survived heart attacks. Any donations made through the site I will get credit for and will go to the American Heart Association

Please help as I learn more about my own heart and the challenges others face.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

This year marked the first year that the established National Honor Society began including Elementary school to join it's already established society for Middle and High schools. Hannah and Patrick's school was asked to establish a chapter and the first inductee ceremony was yesterday. Hannah read the Leadership Quality portion.Hannah and Dr. Palmer Principal of the lower schoolFourth and Fifth graders inducted.